Spate · Granite · South West / Kerry

Caragh

Caragh terrain map
Terrain map

A picturesque spate river in Kerry that rises in the McGillycuddy Reeks and enters Dingle Bay via Caragh Lake (Lough Caragh).

Species

Marginal — persistence required

Low and clear — careful approach country. Hard going on bright water. Favour cloud and shadow.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature1530% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
5.7°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
5°C
Wind
W 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.4 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
24.6 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Spring run from late March; grilse from June; main run summer. The Caragh is a Kerry spate river above Lough Caragh — fish the river or the lough drifts as conditions favour.
Where
Caragh river beats and Lough Caragh drift water. Heads, tails, and named lies on the river; drift lines on the lough.
Method
Small doubles 10 to 12 across-and-down on a floating line; small tubes on a sink-tip in spring water. Catch-and-release encouraged across most Irish salmon water.
Kit
10 ft #7 single-hander on the smaller spate rivers; 11 ft switch where the river opens out. Floating line plus light sink-tip. 10 to 12 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Poor conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Feeding time is weakest (10).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • IFI rod licence (RoI)
  • Beats managed by local association; day tickets typically €20–€40
  • Excellent accessibility from Killorglin
  • Connection to Caragh Lake (wild brown trout, sea-trout) provides multi-venue option.
Directions
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About this water

A picturesque spate river in Kerry that rises in the McGillycuddy Reeks and enters Dingle Bay via Caragh Lake (Lough Caragh). The Caragh is a classic granite mountain river: responsive to rainfall (5–8 hours to peak), clear and technical, with excellent populations of wild brown trout and Atlantic salmon. Sea trout enter from late March/April onwards (earlier than most west-coast spate rivers), with grilse joining the run from June. The river feeds Caragh Lake, which is itself a destination for wild brown trout and sea-trout boat fishing. The Upper Caragh Fishery (~15 km from Bealalaw to Caragh Lake) has well-developed access — stiles, footbridges, anglers' huts on many beats.

  • Granite
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 February → 30 September
  • Sea trout1 February → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5